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Author: 


Mosher,  William  E. 


Title: 


Quantity  and  cost  budgets 
for  clerical  workers  in... 

Place: 

New  York 

Date: 

1921 


MASTER   NEGATIVE   # 


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Mosher,  William  E 

.•.Quantity  and  cost  budgets  for  clerical 
workers  in  New  York  city,  April,  1921  by 
William  E.' Mosher...  Hew  York,  1921, 


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SGKOOI.  OF  BUSINESS 


MUNICIPAL  RESEARCH 

To  promote  the  application  of  scientific  principles  to  government 


No. 
95 


Issued  by  the 
Bureau  op  Municipal  Research 

AND 

Training  School  for  Public  Service 
261  Broadway,  New  York 


1921 


LIBRARY 
SCHOOL  OF  BUSINESS 

QUANTITY  AND  COST 
BUDGETS  FOR  CLERICAL  WORKERS 

IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


April,  1921 


BY 


WILLIAM  E.  MOSHER 


(^l 


K'^ 


This  issue  25  cents 


"P^Q^ 


\<\'SS 


LIBRARY 


School  of  Business 


Given  by 


D&. 


> 


Atf  JJ.  .  '...'■■  \.AJ J 


MUNICIPAL  RESEARCH 

To  promote  the  application  of  scientific  principles  to  government 

Issued  by  the 
Bureau  op  Municipal  Research 
No.  AND 

95  Training  School  for  Public  Service  1921 

261  Broadwa3%  New  York 


QUANTITY  AND  COST 
BUDGETS  FOR  CLERICAL  WORKERS 

IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 

April,  1921 


BY 


WILLIAM  E.  MOSHER 


This  issue  25  cents 


■mmsm^ 


"^^i^^^ir 


Prefatory  Note 

The   data   used   in   the  prepara^ 
tion    of   this   study    were   collected 
largely     by     Miss     E.     M.     Eppich, 
Miss    Clara    Trenckmann    and    Mr. 
Harold   G.   Schutt,   students   in  the 
Training  School  for  Public  Service. 
Valuable    assistance    was    rendered 
in  the  compilation  of  the  material 
by    Miss    Eppich    and     Miss    Enid 
Mack  of  Barnard  College.     I  wish 
also  to  express  my  appreciation  of 
the     co-operation     of    the     various 
organizations    which    made    useful 
material  accessible  for  the  purpose 
of    the    survey,    but    especially    to 
Mrs.  I.  W.  Stacey,  of  the  New  York 
University,    Coordinator,    and    Mrs. 
Blanche     W.     Welzmiller,     Deputy 
CommissioneiT    of    the     Bureau     of 
Markets. 

W.  E.   MOSHER. 


1 

V3 


MINIMUM  QUANTITY  AND  COST  BUDGETS  FOR 
CLERICAL  WORKERS  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 

APRIL,  1921 

INTRODUCTION 

Because  of  the  importance  that  properly  attaches  to  the  cost 
of  living  in  municipal  salary  standardization,  the  Bureau  of  Mu- 
nicipal Research  of  New  York  City  has  gathered  data  to  show 
what  it  costs  to  maintain  an  American  standard  of  life  on  a  min- 
imum ''health  and  decency  level"  in  New  York  City  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  Reference  is  made  to  the  level  upon  which  the  great 
low-salaried  group  of  clerical  workers  are  accustomed  or  desire 
to  live.  This  group  includes  both  public  employees  and  those  en- 
gaged in  commercial  and  banking  enterprises.  Since  workers  of 
this  class  usually  live  so  little  removed  from  the  subsistence  level 
and  since  their  salaries  respond  so  slowly  to  changes  in  the  cost 
of  living,  it  seems  highly  desirable  that  a  basis  be  established 
which  will  make  possible  sound  salary  adjustments.  It  should 
also  be  recognized  that  this  basis  should  be  revised  from  time 
to  time  in  keeping  with  changes  in  price  levels. 

The  ground  work  for  the  investigation,  i.  e.,  the  determination 
of  what  quantities  of  commodities  and  services  constitute  the 
American  standard  of  life  on  a  minimum  level  of  health  and  de- 
cency, is  provided  in  reports  published  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor 
Statistics  of  the  Federal  Department  of  Labor.*  This  organiza- 
tion based  its  conclusions  as  to  quantities  of  articles  primarily  on 
material  collected  by  its  agents  in  a  country- wide  survey  of  ac- 
tual family  budgets.  These  data  were  then  supplemented  by 
special  investigations  along  certain  specific  lines.  It  is  evidently 
only  on  the  basis  of  such  a  broad  study  that  tenable  conclusions 
can  be  reached.  The  immediate  purpose  of  the  reports  of  the 
Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  was  to  guide  the  Joint  Congressional 
Commission  on  the  Reclassification  of  Salaries  in  determining  the 


•  For  summaries  see  Monthly  Labor  Review,  December,  1919,  and  January,  1920. 
More  detailed  treatment  of  the  family  budget  is  found  In  a  special  bulletin  Issued 
by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  in  November,  1919.  It  is  entitled:  Tentative 
Quantity  and  Cost  Budgret.  Much  pertinent  information  appears  also  in  a  later  ar- 
ticle bearing  the  title:  Minimum  Quantity  Budget  Necessary  to  Maintain  a  Family 
of  Five.  This  applies  to  the  workingman's  family  and  attempts  to  establish  a 
standard  of  living  on  a  health  and  decency  level  along  the  same  general  lines  as  for 
the  clerical  worker.  This  article  appeared  in  the  Monthly  Labor  Review  in  June, 
1920. 


-  w^P^SPBSPSSWiSI 


minimum  wage  for  clerical  employees  in  the  federal  departments 
in  Washington.  Since  the  standard  of  life  maintained  by  those 
in  minor  clerical  positions  in  Washington  does  not  differ  mate- 
rially from  that  maintained  by  similar  workers  employed  both 
by  the  municipal  government  and  by  private  commercial  organi- 
zations in  New  York  City,  it  was  thought  desirable  to  adopt  this 
standard  with  minor  changes  in  the  investigation. 

Although  the  quantity  budgets  for  a  single  man,  a  single  wom- 
an and  a  typical  family  of  five,  have  been  before  the  public  well 
over  a  year,  there  has  been  on  the  whole  comparatively  little 
criticism  as  to  the  fact  that  these  budgets  include  the  items  neces- 
sary for  maintaining  an  American  standard  of  life  on  the  mini- 
mum level  of  health  and  decency.  Among  the  critics  there  have 
naturally  been  some  who  consider  the  standard  as  too  high  and 
others  who  contend  that  it  is  too  low.  It  will  be  found  that  the 
former  usually  take  exception  to  the  final  total  cost,  whereas  the 
latter  are  likely  to  attack  individual  items  as  insufficient  as  to 
quantity  or  price.  But  according  to  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Sta- 
tistics the  criticisms  have  not  seemed  of  sufficient  importance  to 
call  for  changes  in  the  published  budgets.  Incidentally  it  may 
be  worth  while  to  note  that  the  method  cf  criticizing  individual 
items  is  the  rational  one.  Proper  analysis  of  standard  budgets  re- 
quires that  attention  should  be  turned  first  to  the  articles  and 
quantities  specified,  and  then  to  the  cost  of  the  individual  ar- 
ticles and  services  in  order  to  determine  whether  due  consideration 
has  been  given  to  quality,  favorable  purchasing  conditions,  etc. 
The  totals  may  then  be  left  to  the  adding  machines. 

The  desirability  of  fixing  a  point  in  the  wage  scale  with  refer- 
ence to  a  well-defined  minimum  standard  of  living — whether  the 
total  cost  be  accepted  as  the  actual  minimum  wage  or  not — is 
obvious.  Without  a  basis  in  fact  differences  of  opinion  as  to 
''what  it  costs  to  live''  cannot  be  settled  with  any  degree  of  sat- 
isfaction, nor  should  so  vital  a  matter  be  left  to  conjecture  or 
general  impression,  particularly  when  so  many  people  are  in- 
clined to  think  of  salaries  in  terms  of  pre-war  dollars.  Moreover, 
since  the  quantity  and  cost  budgets  are  stated  in  terms  of  specified 
articles  and  services,  the  critic  can  determine  independently 
whether  the  standard  adopted  is  too  high  or  too  low,  and  can  con- 
sequently decide  at  just  what  point  in  the  wage  scale  the  figure 
recommended  shall  be  written  in.  The  prices  quoted  being  cur- 
rent, may  also  be  checked  and  controlled  without  difficulty.  Fin- 
ally, by  using  index  numbers  or  by  periodically  repricing  typical 
commodities  included  in  the  budgets,  it  will  be  possible  to  adjust 


^ 


the  total  from  time  to  time  to  meet  major  fluctuations  in  prices, 
thus  guaranteeing  to  employees  of  limited  incomes  a  more  or  less 
constant  standard  of  life. 

In  passing,  reference  should  be  made  to  the  word  of  warning 
expressed  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  concerning  the  fact 
that  precisely  the  amounts  specified  may  not  be  necessary  for 
maintaining  life  at  the  level  described.  In  the  first  place,  families 
are  not  of  a  uniform  size;  then,  too,  some  housewives  are  gifted 
with  the  ability  to  economize  in  the  food  items,  others  on  cloth- 
ing, and  others  in  still  different  directions.  A  number  of  adjust- 
ments and  adaptations  are  easily  conceivable  within  and  between 
the  groups  of  expenditures  compiled  below.  This  applies  as  well 
to  the  budgets  of  the  single  man  and  woman.  But  it  is  clear  that 
it  is  only  on  the  basis  of  a  definite  and  concrete  norm  that  one  can 
discuss  to  any  purpose  the  standard  of  living.  It  has  been  the 
aim  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  to  provide  this  norm.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  Bureau  also  warns  of  the  specious  argument 
that  people  do  actually  live  on  less  than  what  is  called  for  in  these 
budgets.  To  such  critics  it  replies  that  ''families  may  and  do 
live,  although  underfed,  underclothed,  unhealthily  housed,  over- 
worked, especially  the  wife  and  mother,  and  deprived,  particu- 
larly the  children,  of  many  things  essential  to  the  development 
of  healthy  and  useful  citizens.'* 

Three  Quantity  Budgets. 

On  account  of  the  differences  in  the  ways  of  living  and  the  re- 
sponsibilities involved,  it  was  deemed  advisable  by  the  Bureau  of 
Labor  Statistics  to  establish  three  different  budgets:  one  each  for 
a  single  man  and  woman,  and  one  for  a  typical  family  of  hus- 
band, wife  and  three  children. 

The  level  determined  on  is  higher  than  the  "poverty"  or  the 
"subsistence"  level,  as  it  was  considered  that  workers  of  the  class 
under  consideration  should  be  enabled  to  maintain  life  according 
to  a  minimum  standard  of  health  and  comfort.  This  is  described 
in  the  introduction  of  the  report  in  the  following  paragraph: 

(The  minimum  of  health  and  comfort  level) — This 
represents  a  slightly  higher  level  than  that  of  subsistence, 
providing  not  only  for  the  material  needs  of  food,  shelter, 
and  bodily  covering,  but  also  for  certain  comforts,  such 
as  clothing  sufficient  for  bodily  comfort  and  to  maintain 
the  wearer's  instinct  of  self-respect  and  decency,  some  in- 
surance against  the  more  important  misfortunes — aeath, 
disability  and  fire — good  education  for  the  children,  some 
amusement,  and  some  expenditures  for  self.development. 

Following   established  precedents,   the   budgets   were   prepared 


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under  the  following  subdivisions:  food,  clothing,  housing,  fuel 
and  light,  and  miscellaneous.  The  last  item  includes  such  mat- 
ters as  cleaning,  upkeep  of  furniture  and  furnishings,  recreation, 
health,  etc. 

It  has  already  been  indicated  that  the  standards  as  set  up  by 
the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics whether  they  be  for  food,  cloth- 
ing or  housing  and  other  groups  of  items — were  arrived  at  by 
considering  the  detailed  schedules  selected  from  a  large  number 
of  budgets  that  were  gathered  in  a  country-wide  study  by  the 
agents  of  the  Bureau  in  1918-19.  Upwards  of  30,000  such  sched- 
ules were  collected  in  the  survey  that  covered  over  ninety  dif- 
ferent localities  scattered  throughout  the  country.  The  families 
investigated  were  those  of  wage-earners  or  low-salaried  workers, 
the  majority  of  whom  were  earning  less  than  $2,000  per  year.* 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Bureau  some  850  of  these  sched^- 
ules  were  used,  for  instance,  as  the  basis  of  the  standard  quanti- 
ties set  up  for  clothing;  280  schedules  of  families  having  three 
children  under  fifteen  served  as  the  basis  for  the  food  standard; 
100  schedules  for  similar  families  were  used  in  determining  the 
standard  quantities  of  furniture,  both  as  to  original  cost  and  cost 
of  replacement. 

For  housing,  board,  room  and  certain  other  items  that  were  nat- 
urally strongly  influenced  by  local  considerations,  the  survey  de- 
manded supplementary  investigation  in  Washington,  D.  C.  In- 
formation gathered  in  a  study  of  600  wage-earning  women  living 
in  Washington  in  1916  and  receiving  less  than  $1,100  per  year 
was  also  utilized  in  determining  the  quantity  budget  for  the  singl.* 
woman.**  For  information  concerning  life  and  fire  insurance,  re- 
ligious and  labor  organizations,  sickness,  recreation,  carfare,  etc., 
reference  w^as  made  to  the  actual  expenditures  of  64  families  of 
government  workers  in  Washington  for  the  two  years  closing  De- 
cember 31,  1916,  and  July  31,  1919.*** 

The  considerations  that  weighed  with  regard  to  other  items, 
especially  to  those  listed  under  Miscellaneous,  appear  in  the  course 
of  the  discussion  of  the  budgets  in  the  issues  of  the  Monthly  Labor 
Review  already  mentioned. 

In  general  it  is  urged  that  those  interested  in  a  critical  con- 
sideration of  the  following  budgets  should  refer  to  the  detailed 
explanations!  in  the  Review,  since  we  have  accepted  the  standards 

•  See   the  following   issues   of    the   Monthly  Labor   Review:    Augrust,    September    No- 
vember.   December.    1919.   and   January.    1!>20. 

••See  Monthly  Labor  Revipw.   Ootobor,   1917;   April.  1918. 

•••  See  Special  Bulletin  entitled  Tentative  Quantity  and  Cost  Budget.  Appendix  D. 


there  set  forth  and  for  that  reason  reduce  explanatory  comments 
to  a  minimum. 

Following  the  summaries  of  the  three  budgets  are  found  the 
itemized  lists  of  quantities  and  costs  with  accompanying  remarks 
wherever  these  are  called  for.  The  prices  were  collected  in  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  1921,  for  the  most  part  in  the  two  two-week  pe- 
riods preceding  and  following  March  1st. 

A — SUMMARY  OP  FAMILY  BUDGET. 

I.     Food    ) 1655. as 

II..     Clothing: 

Husband   (includes  |6  cleaning  and  $3 

misc.)     1110.12 

Wife 134.43 

Boy    (11   yrs.) 93.52 

Girl    (5   yrs.) 63.02 

Boy   (2  yrs.)    38.96 

440.05 

III.  Housing    (light   and  fuel) ,.  .  536.00 

IV.  Miscellaneous    632.15 

?2,263.55 
B^^SUMMARY  OP  BUDGET  FOR  SINGLE  MAN 

I.      Food     ', $359.75 

IL     Clothing 156.12 

III.  Room 260.00 

IV.     Miscellaneous 218.39 

Total   (not  including  savings) $994.26 

V.     Savings — 10  per  cent,  of  total  expenses 99.42 

Total — including  savings   $1,093.68 

C — SUMMARY  OP  BUDGET  FOR  SINGLE  WOMAN 

I.     Food    $359.75 

II.      Clothing   .  .i 184.30 

III.      Room 260.00 

IV.  Miscellaneous    212.39 

Total   (not  including  savings) $1,016.44 

V.     Savings — 10  per  cent,  of  total  expenses 101^64 

Total — including    savings ^ $1,118.08 

QUANTITIES  AND  COSTS 
A — Fa/mily  Budget. 
I. — Food. 

The  food  prices  are  for  February  and  March,  1921,  except  for 
such  commodities  as  were  out  of  season  at  that  time.  For  these 
the  average  minimum  prices  charged  during  the  appropriate  sea- 
son of  1920  were  secured.  At  least  three  prices  were  secured  for 
each  item,  and  in  a  large  number  of  cases  five  prices  figure  in  the 
average.     The  prices  were  compiled  from  the  following  sources: 

7 


"^^'^"^'^'^mmammm-^ 


'^'wm^mm^m'f^^mw 


vegetables,  meat  and  fish  from  the  Bureau  of  Markets*,  dealers 
in  the  Washington  and  59th  Street  Markets,  Mr.  Foy,  Editor  of 
the  Daily  Market  Report,  and  for  out  of  season  vegetables,  also 
from  Henry  Kelly  and  Sous  (413  West  14th  Street)  ;  dry  groc- 
eries from  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Stores  (32  branches),  and  the 
Butler  Stores  (13  branches)  ;  eggs,  milk  and  dairy  products  from 
the  Borden  Farm  Products  Company  (25  branches  or  stores),  the 
Sheffield  Stores  (133  branches),  and  certain  of  the  sources  cited 
above;  bread  and  bakestuffs  from  the  Cushman  Stores  (3 
branches)  and  other  sources  already  listed.  The  prices  were 
checked  in  a  number  of  '* corner  groceries.** 

In  the  following  table  appears  a  condensed  summary  of  the  ave- 
rage annual  quantity  of  food  in  pounds  and  the  annual  cost  of  the 
various  groups  of  items.  The  quantity  and  cost  of  the  individual 
items  is  found  in  Appendix  A  on  page  28.  The  latter  table  served 
as  the  basis  of  the  summary. 


Item 


Bepf  and  veal,  fresh  (1) 

Beef,  suit  (1) 

Pork,  frosh  (1) .'..".'.*.".'." 

Pork,  salt,  including  smoked  ham  and  bacon  (1).. 

Mutton  (1) 

Poultry  (1) '.'.'.".".".'.".*.".'.'. 

Other  meat,  including  sausage,  dried  beef,  etc.  (i). 

Fish  and  other  sea  food  (1) 

Ekxs  . 


Milk,  sweet  and  buttermilk  (2) 

Crenm 

Milk  condensed 

Butter  and  oleomargarine 

Choc.se 

Tea '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

Coffee  and  substitutes 

Sugar 

Molasses,  including  sirup  and  honey. 

Lard 

Flour '..'.'.'.'.'. 

Corn  Meal 

Bread  (3) '..'..'. 

Rice 

Cereals * 

Fruits,  fresh ..'....'. 

Fruits,  dried  and  canned 

Potatoes 

Other  vegetables,  fresh  and  dried. .  . . 

Other  vegetables,  canned 

Other  food  (4) 

nl    Total 

Ice 


Average  Annual 
Quantity  in  Pounds 


Final  Total. 


225.8 
10.1 
38.2 
45.5 
31.2 
27.0 
52.8 
67.9 
102.1 
1006.5 
3.0 
65.2 
93.3 
19.9 
9.8 
40.6 
162.9 
35.5 
67.5 
389.8 
63.8 
480.4 
44.2 
72.3 
400.9 
36.3 
738.2 
566.1 
43.9 
121.3 


Annual 
Cost 


2800.0(5) 


$85.58 
1.71 
9.55 
14.75 
6.85 
11.60 
24.26 
19.30 
40.84 
68.94 
1.59 
9.78 
50.06 
7.84 
3.52 
12.28 
14.66 
10.29 
14.23 
26.37 
4.46 
48.97 
3.97 
7.90 
34.60 
7.89 
21.46 
38.91 
3.81 
32.31 


S63S.55 
16.80 


$655.35 


•The  Bureau  of  Markets  regulates  prices  In  the  thirteen  push-cart  markets 
throughout  the  city.  Its  records  contain  also  the  reports  of  prices  secured  by  the 
Inspectors  who  make  inquiries  at  other  than  push-cart  markets.  The  reports  and 
records  of  this  Bureau   were   used   in   this  survey. 

(1)  Total  meat  and  fish  equivalent  to  1.37  pounds  per  day. 

(2)  Equivalent  to   1.27   quarts  of  milk  per  day. 

(3)  Equivalent  to   1.38   pound   loaves  of  bread  per  day. 

(4)  Including  crackers,  cake,  pies.  Ice  cream,  candy,  Jelly,  oil,  chocolate,  peanut 
kutter,  cocoa,  nuts,  gelatin,  and  canned  soup,  and  macaroni,  spaghetti,  etc.,  corn- 
starch and  tapioca. 

(5)  25  pounds  daily  for  four  months. 

8 


II. — Clothing. 

On  account  of  the  difficulty  of  standardizing  the  quantity  of 
clothing  to  be  worn  by  a  family  of  five,  it  should  be  pointed 
out  that  the  following  budget  can  lay  no  claim  to  finality.  The 
matter  of  home  sewing  alone  can  easily  be  the  cause  of  readjust- 
ing the  quantities  specified.  Although  a  considerable  amount  vi 
home  sewing  is  expected,  an  increase  or  decrease  might  easily 
mean  a  better  supplied  or  more  restricted  wardrobe  for  the  me  *■- 
bers  of  the  family.  Generally  speaking,  it  is  anticipated  that  the 
quantities  adopted  will  make  possible  both  a  proper  degree  of 
comfort  and  warmth,  but  also  that  due  regard  will  have  been 
paid  to  outward  appearance  so  that  one  may  not  be  forced  to  sac- 
rifice his  self-respect  in  associating  with  the  people  of  his  o/,n 
class. 

Because  certain  garments  may  last  more  than  one  year,  pro- 
vision is  made  under  the  heading  "Annual  Replacement"  for  1-2 
or  1-3  of  the  cost  of  the  given  garment  according  to  the  probable 
necessity  of  having  to  replace  it  every  two  or  three  years. 

The  prices  listed  below  are  the  average  prices  charged  in  five 
of  the  large  department  stores,  two  of  which  are  in  the  shopping 
center  of  Manhattan,  one  in  the  neighborhood  of  50th  Street,  an- 
other in  the  uptown  district,  and  the  fifth  in  Brooklyn.  Tliese 
stores  were  selected  because  they  are  quite  generally  patronized 
by  people  who  must  buy  cautiously  and  as  advantageously  as  p  >s- 
sible.  The  shoppers  were  instructed  to  take  advantage  of  current 
sale  prices  except  where  it  was  evident  that  some  line  of  goods 
or  individual  articles  were  being  closed  out  at  abnormally  low 
figures.  With  the  exception  of  one  store,  the  original  data  were 
collected  by  members  of  the  School  for  Retail  Selling  of  New 
York  University,  to  whom  we  wish  to  express  our  appreciation 
at  this  point.  The  prices  were  then  checked  over,  and  in  a  num- 
ber of  cases  verified  on  subsequent  investigation,  by  members  of 
the  Training  School  for  Public  Service  of  the  Bureau  of  Mu- 
nicipal Research. 


I 


a.,  i-n. ..  .a.  -■■■'*Jli'^'4||||i^b|lifii|tiuitifVf '' ' 


■«5*?'*'^p^?5WPW' 


-^mmme- 


•mmf^'m^^w^^m^-'mim^''' 


f!"PSW^ 


CLOTHING  FOR  MAN 


Hat.  felt 

Hat,  straw 

Suit,  winter  (wool)  . 

Suit,  summer  (wool) 

Overcoat 

Raincoat 

Shirts,  cotton 

Union  suits,  summer 

Union  suits,  winter  (part  wool) 
or  Union  suits,  cotton  (winter) 

Pajamas 

Socks,  cotton 
Shoes,  high 

Shoes,  low . , 

Shoe  repairing.  Whole  soles. 
Half  soles,  including  heels 
Rubbers... . 
Gloves,  kid 
Collars 
Ties 

Handkerchiefs 

Garters 

Belts 

Suspenders 

Umbrella 

Cleaning 


CLOTHING  FOR  MARRIED  WOMAN 


Article 


Coat,  wool 

(Better  quality  coat 

Suit,  wool '..'.'.'.'."." 

Alterations .............!* 

Dress,  wool  serge 

Wash  skirt .' ." ! ." .'  .* ! ." ' ' ' 

or  Separate  wool  skirt !...... 

Waidts,  cotton  material  for  (2H  yds.).!...,! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Waists,  cotton,  ready-made , ,[ 

Waist,  dress '.'.'. 

Dresses,  cotton,  thin  cotton  material  for  (6  yds.) 

or  Dresses,  thin  cotton,  ready-made 

Apron,  kitchen,  gingham  for  (2  yds.) ! ! ! ! ! 

^  Apron,  kitchen,  ready-made ! ! 

House  dresses,  gingham  for  (6  yds.) ! ! !  ! 

House  dresses,  gingham,  ready-made ! ! ! 

Kimona,  cotton  crepe,  plainly  made 

Night  gowns ' ' ' 

Petticoat,  white  muslin ! ! 

Petticoat,  dark  cotton !!!!!!!!!! 

Corset  covers 

Brassieres !.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Corset  (standard  make) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Underwear,  separate  garments  (summer)....  ! ! !  " 

or  Underwear,  union  suits  (summer) 

Underwear,  union  suit,  part  wool  (winter) 

Hat,  summer 

Hat,  winter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Gloves,  cotton 

Gloves,  kid 

Uandkcrchiefs 

Umbrella,  cotton !!!!!!!! 

Shoes,  high 

«,       ',  *     • 

oboes,  low 

TJ       L«  

Rubbers 

Stockmgs,  cotton 

Stocking,  wool 

Shoe  repairing: 

New  heels 

Whole  soles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Cleaning  and  pressing !...!!!!!!!! 

Miscellaneous 


Unit  Price 


$32.70 
43.15 
38.50 
4.00 
26.95 
4.25 
8.29 
.55 
2.14 
7.11 
.65 
7.47 
.16 
.91 
.34 
3.13 


Replacement 
Per  Year 


Yearly  Cost 


1-3 
1-3 


1 

1. 

1 

1, 

1, 


Total. 


.93 
.51 
.64 
.93 
.05 
.86 
3.85 
.75 
.92 
2.86 
5.62 
7.69 
1.00 
2.56 
.15 
2.20 
7.76 
6.77 
1.00 
.52 
1.16 


.38 
1.89 
3.20 


H 
H 
h 

3 
3 

H 

2 
2 
1 
1 
2 


1 
1 
8 
2 
1 
S 
S 
1 
1 

H 
1 

H 
8 
1-3 
1 
1 
1 
8 


3 
1 
1 


$10.90 
•14.38 
19.25 
4.00 
13.47 
2.12 
•2.07 
4.14 
•6.42 
3.05 
6.60 
•14.94 
.32 
•.91 
4.08 
•6.26 
.96 
3.02 
1.64 
1.93 
3.15 
1.73 
3.85 
2.25 
2.76 
2.86 
5.62 
3.84 
1.00 
1.28 
1.20 
.76 
7.76 
6.77 
1.00 
4.16 


1.14 
1.89 
3.20 
5.00 


$134.43 


•Alternates,  not  included  in  total. 


CLOTHING  FOR  BOY,  AGED  11 


Article 


Caps 

or  Hats 

Suit,  wool 

Pants,  separate,  wool  (winter) 

Pants,  separate,  wool  and  cotton  (summer) 

Overcoat 

Sweater 

Overalls 

Shirts  or  blouses,  cotton 

Summer  underwear  (union  suits) 

Winter  underwear  (union  suits) 

Pajamas  or  nightshirts 

Stockings 

Shoes,  high • 

Shoes,  low 

Rubbers 

Gloves  or  mittens 

Collars 

Ties 

Handkerchiefs 

Garters ' 

r5eit  .•.•......>..• ........I 

Shoe  repairing  (whole  soles) 

Miscellaneous 


Total. 


Unit  Price 


$1. 

2 
11, 

2. 

1 
12. 

4 

1 


28 
27 
59 
96 
93 
49 
17 
10 
94 
90 
99 
45 
40 
17 
43 
11 
02 
24 
53 
11 
38 
68 
77 


Replacement 
Per  Year 


I 


2 
2 
1 
3 
2 

1 
5 

S 
2 
3 
12 
3 
2 
1 
2 

a 

2 
6 
3 

H 

5 


Yearly  Cost 


$2.56 

*4 .  54 

11.59 

5.92 

3.96 

6.24 

2.08 

1.10 

4.70 

2.70 

3.98 

2.90 

4.80 

15.81 

8.86 


1.11 

1.84 

.72 

1.04 

.66 

.76 

.34 

8.85 

1.00 


$93.52 


•Alternate,  not  included  in  total. 


CLOTHING  FOR  GIRL,  AGED  6 


Article 


Hat,  summer 

Cap,  winter 

or  Hat,  winter 

6  dresses,  cotton,  gingham  for  (3H  yds) 

voile  for  (2H  yds) 

or  6  dresses,  cotton,  ready-made 

Dresses,  wool,  material  for  {l}i  yds.) 

or  Dresses,  wool,  ready-made 

Apron,  gingham  for  (2  yds.) 

Coat 


Sweater 

Cotton  petticoats: 

Muslin 

Outing  flannel. . . 
Summer  underwear: 

Shirts 

Drawers,  muslin.. 

Underwaists 

Winter  underwear: 

Shirts,  wool 

Drawers,  wool . .  . 
Night  dresses: 

Muslin 

Outing  flannel . . . 
Stockings,  cotton. , . 

Shoes,  high 

Shoes,  low 

Rubbers 

Mittens 

Handkerchiefs 

Garters 

Miscellaneous 


Replacement 

Unit  Price 

Per  Year 

$1.90 

1 

1.17 

1 

1.32 

2/5 

.30 

.42 

1.97 
2.00 

H 

4  94 

^ 

.16 

1 

8.93 

H 

3.18 

M 

.82 

2 

.75 

1 

.29 

3 

.38 

1 

.43 

4 

1.36 

2 

1.36 

2 

.98 

1 

.96 

1 

.42 

12 

4.05 

3 

4.26 

3 

.79 

1 

.74 

1 

.09 

6 

.37 

2 

Yearly  Cost 


$1.90 
1.17 
•52 
3.15 
3.15 


•11.82 

1.25 

•2.47 

.32 

4.46 

1.59 

1  64 
.75 

.87 

.39 

1.72 


2  72 

2.72 

.98 

.96 

5.04 

12.15 

12.78 

.79 

.74 

.54 

.74 

2  50 


Total. 


$63.02 


•Left  out  of  total  as  alternates. 


10 


11 


"f^m 


...,     U.  ^    'A       '%,■ 


^xTtTTr^rmiUMmr 


'II 


CLOTHING  FOR  BOY,  AGED  2 


Article 


Hat,  duck 

Cap,  cloth ....". 

or  Cap.  knitted  wool ..'.'.'.'.'. 

3  dr«9se8  or  cotton  suits  or  rompers*. 'ginghain' (2  yds) 
3  overalls,  denim  for  (2  yds.)    ..         •    •     *"  v-  y^o 

Overcoat  (corduroy) 

or  Overcoat  (woo!) 

Sweater .!...*....'.. 

Undershirts,  summer.. .'....'....'. 

Drawers,  muslin,  summer  ........'.* 

or  Union  suits,  summer 

Undarwaists.  summer 

Undershirts,  winter ', 

Drawers,  winter 

Nijht  dresses,  muslin .'.'..'. 

Night  dressea.  out  in;?  flamnel. . .  

Stockings  and  socks 

Stockings 

bocks 

Shoos,  high 

Shoes,  low  (saadais) .........[ 

Mittens 

Garters ..........!.. 

Miscellaneous 


Unit  Price 


Replacement 
Per  Year 


t  .71 

.99 
.99 
.29 
.34 
4.64 
8.48 
3.62 
.39 
.41 
.67 
.50 
1.22 
1.11 
.82 
.90 


Yearly  Cost 


Total . 


•Alternates,  not  included, in  total. 


.48 

.40 

3.92 

2.11 

.45 

.3:j 


H 
3 
3 
3 
4 
2 
2 
1 
1 

10 


S  .71 

.99 
•.99 
1.74 
2.04 
2.32 
•4.24 
1.81 
1.17 
1  23 
•2.01 
2.00 
2.44 
2.22 
.82 
.90 


2 
2 
1 
2 


2.40 
2.00 
7.84 
4.22 
.45 
.66 
1.00 


$38.96 


SUMMARY   OF   CLOTHING 


Husband    .  .|.  .  . 

Wife    

Boy  (11  years) 
Girl  (5  years) 
Boy  (2  years)    , 


Total 


Per  Year. 

1110.12 

134.43 

93.52 

63.02 

38.96 

$440.05 


in. —Housing,  Fuel  and  Light. 

No  part  of  the  investigation  caused  more  difficulty  than  the 
matter  of  average  housing  costs,  even  though  the  standard  of  four 
rooms  with  bath  and  running  water  was  accepted  as  applicable 
to  the  conditions  of  the  typical  family  of  five  in  New  York  City 
Ordinarily,  one  would  turn  to  the  prices  being  charged  for  apart^ 
ments  or  houses  of  this  type  actually  offered  for  rent  at  the 
present  time.    But  in  the  absence  of  such  data  on  account  of  the 
great  dearth  of  houses  in  the  city  it  became  clear  that  only  a 
most  extensive  survey,  that  would  inevitably  be  time-consuming 
and  costly,  would  supply  the  data  necessary  for  determining  sat- 
isfactory averages.     It  was,  therefore,  decided  to  seek  the  co-op- 
eration of  several  banks  and  one  insurance  company,  employing 
large   numbers   of  clerks,   on   the   assumption   that  there  would 
be  many  among  this  number  who  are  maintaining  a  standard  of 
life  on   a  minimum  level  of  health  and  decency.     Through  the 

12 


courtesy  of  the  proper  officials,  the  following  organizations  co- 
operated in  securing  the  desirable  data:  the  Chase  National  Bank, 
the  Guaranty  Trust  Company,  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance 
Company,  and  the  National  City  Bank.  As  these  organizations 
employ  upwards  of  13,000  workers,  it  was  considered  that 
the  data  supplied  by  a  selected  group  of  their  employees  would 
afford  a  sufficiently  broad  basis  for  sound  conclusions  as  to  the 
actual  cost  of  rent  and  the  related  items  to  those  whose  income 
practically  determines  such  a  standard  of  life  as  we  are  analyzing. 
Since  it  was  desirable  to  limit  the  distribution  of  questionaires 
to  those  who  are  maintaining  a  family  and  who  are  living  in  small 
and  inexpensive  apartments,  consisting  preferably  of  four  rooms 
and  a  bath,  it  was  agreed  that  the  questionnaire  forms  should  be 
distributed  only  among  married  clerical  employees  who  receive 
not  to  exceed  $2,500,  including  any  bonus  paid  last  year.  On  this 
basis,  590  replies  to  the  questionnaire,  giving  information  as  to 
rent,  fuel  and  light,  and  transportation,  were  returned. 

It  was  necessary  on  account  of  insufficient  or  apparently  inax;- 
curate  information  to  discard  234  questionnaires.  The  large  num- 
ber of  discards  is  due  for  the  most  part  of  the  fact  that  there 
seemed  to  be  unwillingness  to  give  satisfactory  informaton  as  to 
annual  income.  On  the  ground  that  those  receiving  more  than 
$2,400  per  year  would  be  able  to  live  on  a  higher  level  than  the 
one  under  consideration,  146  other  reports  were  also  set  aside.  A 
further  selection  took  place  in  that  all  schedules  reporting  one, 
two,  seven  or  more  rooms  were  eliminated.  There  were  17  fall- 
ing within  this  group. 

The  final  tabulation  as  listed  below  takes  into  account,  there- 
fore, only  the  reports  of  those  occupying  three,  four,  five  and  six- 
room  apartments,  both  heated  and  unheated,  including  11  houses 
of  four  to  six  rooms  which  are  classed  with  the  ''cold  water  flats." 
So  far  as  income  is  concerned,  the  tabulation  includes  only  such 
schedules  as  report  annual  incomes  up  to  $2,400.*  Such  a  selec- 
tion on  the  basis  of  size  of  apartment  and  income  resulted  in  the 
acceptance  of  193  schedules. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  a  four  room  apartment  and  bath  nas 
been  set  as  the  minimum  standard  for  a  family  of  five  that  is  con- 

.  The  following  condensed  table  indicates  the  distribution  of  the  193  reports  with 
respect  to  annual  Income: 


Annual  Salary. 

$  832-$l,199 
1,200-  1,499 
1,600-   1.799 


1,800- 
2,100- 


2,099 
2,400 

Total 


No.  of  Cases. 
6 
14 
S6 
74 
«8 

193 


13 


•;"*f'^^>S!*«^»M».'- 


Ni 


sistent  mtb  health  and  decency,  analysis  of  the  data  shows  that 

worker:  'Z  Tf  *  "  ""'^  '^''"'"°"  '"'  '~l-ed  clerical 
cent  0?  the  L,  J°°"'  '""■*™'"*-     ^'^ty-seven,  or  29  per 

Sfi  tf     V        '"""^"''  ""P*""'  *°""^  '•*'«'°«  '^''d  bath,  and  70,  or 
36  per  cent.,  report  five  rooms  and  bath.     For  this  reason  the 

paid  by  the  193  clerical  employees  of  the  income  group  described 

c^^ntT"^'  "  '^^  ^'^"  ''^  ''''  *''"*'^'°^  ''^'"'-  I^  t-kes  into  L 
count  the  average  annual  cost  of  the  four  and  five  room  apartments 
but  also  of  30  three  room  and  36  six  room  apartments. 

AVERAGE  ANNUAL   RENTALS   AND  AVERAGE  INCOMES 


Rental 

Average  income  of  rentere 


57  Four  Room 
Apartnienta 


S456.14 
1.880.63 


70  Five  Room 
Apartments 


$457.15 
1.921.02 


193  Three,  Four,  Five  and 
oix  Room  Apartments 


$469.73 
1.915.02 

Since  it  may  be  assumed  that  so  large  a  group  of  clerical  em- 
ployees  receiving,  on  an  average,  only  $1,915.02  per  year    will 
pay  no  more  than  housing  conditions  in  New  York  City  demand 
the  conclusion  seems  warranted  that  at  least  $450  will  be  required 

Of  s:  Id  ^ZT'''  ^  ^"  ^°"^^^'^'''  -'''' ''-  -'''''-' 

Fuel  and  Light. 

As  no  minimum  standard  for  these  items  has  been  worked  out 
It  IS  necessary  to  accept  the  actual  average  expenditures  of  the 
families  housed   according   to   the   minimum   standards   just   de- 
scribed.    We  therefore  parallel  the  data  given  above  for  the  va- 
rious types  of  apartments.    Although  the  fuel  costs  for  the  "cold 
water  apartments"  are  much  higher  than  for  the  heated  ones" 
the  two  groups  are  averaged  together  on  a  weighted  basis  just  as' 
they  were  with  regard  to  rents.    The  following  figures  include  not 
alone  cost  of  heat  and  light,  but  also  the  expenditures  for  heat 
for  cooking  and  heating  water  for  domestic  purposes. 

1921).  being  held  an  to  the  >»?«  rite,  of  thi^  „'."""'?  "/""'Off!'  now  (April, 
in  the  printing  trade,.  The  Libor  Bureau  renoVt/STA"'  '^J""'  ""''  "">er  workori 
•t  five  room,  and  bath  In  dw*lhns,^o^^,I?^"',!"^  ^'  '"^  "X^'"''  average  rental 
106th  street.  Second  Avenue,  izl^th.-itreet  and  mLi.""""'."'  """'"  '>»"n<l'"I  by 
Time.,  April  6.  1921.  For  the  detailed  aceoum^e  ^'"V.  '*'"'""'^-  ^f.  .N'ew  York 
the  ba.l.  of  the  one  reported  In  the  Tfrne^  rr  Mo-,lV"7  ?"">'  ""'<">  •"'"•l  »' 
1920.    pp.    61-66.  lime.,    Cf.    Monthly    Labor    Review,    February. 

••There  were  88  cold  water  nnartmo...*    n    t 
actual    average    coat    for   these    Kr^nthl    nnT*"?  ^^  ^^   ^'^^^^'^  apartments.  Th.. 
I1B2.30:    In   the   heated   It    was    iso.^i.     "    *^*    unhealed    apartments    and    houses    was 


14 


rnmrn 


m 


The  average  annual  cost  of  heat  and  light  for  four  room  apart- 
ments was  $86.03;  for  the  five  room  apartments,  it  was  $112.81; 
and  for  the  three,  four,  five  and  six  room  apartments,  it  was 
$102.67.  On  the  basis  of  these  averages,  $86  is  charged  as  the 
minimum  annual  cost  for  heat  and  light.* 

SUMMARY. 

:  Annual  Cost. 

Housing,  fuel  and  light ' ^^-'^^     . 

IV. — Miscellaneous  Expenses. 

Upkeep  of  House  Furniture  and  Furnishings. 

For  the  purpose  of  this  budget,  it  is  assumed  that  the  average 
family  will  have  already  provided  itself  with  the  more  desirable 
articles  of  furniture  at  the  beginning  of  married  life,  and  that 
the  amount  to  be  charged  under  this  heading  would  be  due  to  up- 
keep and  necessary  replacements  at  the  time  of  maximum  ex- 
pense, i.  e.,  when  there  are  three  children.  Investigation  proved 
that  this  cost  might  be  computed  on  a  percentage  basis  of  the 
cost  of  a  minimum  of  furniture  and  furnishings  suitable  for  a 
family  living  in  moderate  circumstances.  The  upkeep  cost  was 
found  to  be  about  6  per  cent,  of  the  replacement  cost. 

In  order  to  compute  the  amount  to  be  charged  the  replacement 

cost  of  the  whole  list  of  house  furnishings  was  secured  at  the  five 

department  stores  previously  described.     This  included  a  total  of 

138  different  items.     The  number  of  articles  under  each  item  is 

prescribed  in  the  Quantity  Budget. 

Replacement  Cost. 

Furniture  (table,  chair,  bed,  etc.) •  •  • ....  ^^JJ-J^ 

Household  utensils  (such  as  wringers,  brooms,  dishes,  etc.) .  sz.di 

Household  supplies   (such  as  tablecloths,  sheets,  etc.) Hl'll 

Kitchen  utensils ) ^^-^^ 

Total ?874.87 

Six  per  cent,  of  the  replacement  cost  as  the  annual  cost  of  up. 

keep  of  furniture  and  furnishings $52.49 

Cost  of  gas  mantles,  electric  bulbs  and  a  few  other  articles 

not  to  be  estimated  quantitatively 10.00 

Total    ) 562.49 

Laundry  Work. 

The  prevailing  rate  per  day  for  a  cleaning  or  a  washer  woman 
ranges  at  the  present  time  from  $3.00  to  $4.00,  plus  ten  cents  for  car- 

•Airain  this  fl?ure  is  comparable  to  the  average  amount  actually  paid  in  the 
apartments  selected  by  the  Labor  Bureau.  Inc..  of  New  York  City.  According  to 
their  la«t  report  this  was  $83.60. 

15 


''''if'^^^mmmmmmym^imsmmimmm 


,r 


fare  aecordmg  to  the  reports  from  the  following  agencies :  two  State 
EmplojTnent  Bureaus  situated  «t  184  West  135th  Street,  and  112 
West  45th  Street,  and  also  fr^.i  the  Universal  Employment  Bu- 

7Z  ^^  IT  ^^"'  ^'''''^'  ^^  *^^  ^^''y  l^niPloyment  Agency 
(659  Sixth  Avenue).  Three  doUars  and  sixty  cents  seems,  there- 
tore,  to  be  the  average  current  rate  per  week. 

ear^^'i'm  20"°'^'   '"'''*^""^  *"^'   washing-1   day   a  week-per 
Cleaning  Supplies  and  Services. 

Tile  starred  articles  in  the  following  list  were  priced  at  Liggetts 
ihis  organization  was  selected  because  it  has  about  fifty  branches 
distributed  throughout  the  city  and  also  because  it  is  generally 
patronized  by  purchasers  of  the  class  under  consideration  The  fig- 
ures were  checked  further  with  prices  charged  in  the  large  depart- 
ment  stores  and  in  a  "corner  drug  store"  (8th  Avenue  and  l-Jth 
Street).  Prices  for  the  otlier  articles,  except  barber  services,  were 
secured  from  the  chain  grocery  stores  referred  to  on  page  8. 


Cleaning  supplies  and  services 


Personal:  Toilet  soap,  small  bar  Ivory  .... 

Toothbrushes 

Toothpaste,  tube  or  box. 

Comb,  hard  rubber .'. 

Hairbrush ..'..."..* 

Shoe  polish,  box 

Barber's  services:  

Husband,  hair  cut 

Children,  hair  cut 

Household  •  

Laundry  soap,  H-pound  bar 

otarch,  pound 

Cleanser,  box , 

Unspecified  cleaning  supplies' a  ndsVrVices, 'such  as' borax 

ammonia,  washing  powder,  bluing,  insect  powder,  etc.   . 

Total 


Unit  Pricel     guartity 
Per  Year 


to.  07 
.26 
.25 
.75 
1.50 
.15 

.50 
..V) 

.10 

.07^ 

.05 

3.00 


70 

12 

1 

01 

12 

8 

120 

6 

36 


Cost 


14  PO 

].25 

3.00 

.75 

.75 

.90 

6.00 
4.00 

12.00 

1.80 

n.co 

S3S.S0 


Health. 

This  item  covers  fees  for  physician,  dentist  and  oculist  for 
medicines  and  other  remedies.  The  figure  is  based  on  the  expen- 
ditures for  this  group  of  items  of  the  sixty-four  families  of  govern 
ment  employees,  previously  referred  to.  As  the  customary  fees 
for  professional  services  of  the  type  under  consideration  are  about 
the  same  m  Washington  as  they  were  in  1919,  and  as  thev  com 
pare  with  those  now  charged  in  New  York,  no  change  is'  made 
m  the  estimate. 

Health,  per  year,  $80.00. 

16 


Insurance, 

In  the  interest  of  self-protection  and  safety,  it  was  considered 
that  $5,000  should  be  the  minimum  amount  of  insurance  to  be 
carried  by  the  head  of  a  family  of  five.  Figures  were  secured 
from  the  Metropolitan  and  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Companies, 
two  of  the  largest  and  most  reputable  of  the  old-line  companies. 
As  the  premium  charges  did  not  vary  greatly,  the  Metropolitan 
figures  were  adopted  for  our  purpose.  It  appeared  that  the  prem- 
ium per  thousand  for  a  man  of  thirty-five — the  age  generally 
used  as  a  base  in  estimating  average  costs  of  insurance — was  $24 
per  year.  This  is  for  a  policy  that  pa^^s  endowment  at  eighty- 
five,  but  to  all  practical  intents  and  purposes  it  is  a  type  of 
''straight  life"  insurance,  the  cheapest  insurance  procurable  and 
the  form  of  insurance  adopted  in  the  standard  budget. 

Insurance:  (a)  Life,  $5,000  ordnary  policy,  yearly  premium, 
$120.00. 

The  standard  rate  for  furniture  insurance  in  New  York  City, 
as  quoted  by  a  representative  of  the  New  York  Fire  Exchange,  is 
50  cents  per  hundred  for  tenants  of  brick  apartment  houses  when 
taking  insurance  for  three  years  at  a  time.  Assuming  that  the 
average  value  of  the  furniture  for  a  family  of  the  type  under  con- 
sideration is  $1,000,  the  charge  against  this  item  would  be  $5  for 
three  years,  or  $1.67  per  year. 

Insurance:    (b)   Furniture,  per  year,  $1.67. 

Carfare. 

Although  it  has  been  found  that  the  average  cost  of  transpor- 
tation as  reported  in  the  193  selected  cases  is  approximately  16 
cents  per  day,  only  10  cents  is  allowed  in  this  budget  for  riding 
to  and  from  work.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  the  extensive  rami- 
fications of  the  subway  system  make  it  possible  for  one  to  reach 
even  the  outlying  disticts  for  a  single  fare.  Within  this  range  con- 
siderable numbers  of  suitable  apartments  are  located. 

Three  hundred  rides  are  provided  for  the  wife  and  children. 
This  makes  possible  three  trips  per  week  on  the  street  car.  It  is 
assumed  that  the  wife  will  have  to  use  the  car  as  often  as  this  in 
the  course  of  the  week  in  connection  with  her  marketing,  shopping, 
etc.  No  provision  is  made  for  carfare  for  the  children  in  going  to 
and  from  school. 

Carfare,  900  rides,  per  year,  $45.00. 

17 


I'll 


Recreation. 

This  item  includes  transportation  costs  in  going  to  the  parks 
or  the  river,  as  weU  as  expenditures  for  the  movie  theater  and 
other  forms  of  amusement.  No  provision  is  made  in  this  budget 
for  vacation  expenses.  Recognizing  the  difficulty  of  setting  a 
quantity  standard  for  the  item  of  recreation,  the  average  amount 
actually  spent  by  sixty-four  families  of  government  employees 
in  Washington  was  adopted. 

Amusements  and  recreation,  per  year,  $20.00. 

Reading. 

An  allowance  is  made  for  a  newspaper,  daily  and  Sunday, 
but  none  for  magazines,  books,  etc.  As  the  usual  price  of  the 
New  York  City  daily  is  now  3  cents  and  5  cents  for  the  Sunday 
issue,  these  prices  were  taken  as  the  basis  for  the  above  figure. 

Newspapers,  per  year,  $11.99. 

Organizations. 

A  contribution  of  25  cents  per  week  is  included  as  a  minimum 
amount  for  church  and  Sunday  School  and  other  organizations. 
Church  and  other  organizations,  per  year,  $13.00. 

Incidentals. 

This  heading  covers  a  considerable  number  of  items  such  as 
moving  expenses,  burial  expenses,  stationery,  postage,  occasional 
telephoning,  telegraphing,  patriotic  contributions  and  charity. 
Expenditures  of  this  sort  may  easily  exceed  $1  per  week,  the 
amount  specified  in  the  quantity  budget. 

Incidentals,  per  year,  $52.00. 

SUMMARY. 

iT^i,  *  V  M       ..  Annual  Cost. 

upkeep  of  house,  furniture  and  furnishings $6249 

LAundry  work    **'*      1^720 

Cleaning  supplies  and  serTices 38  80 

?®aith •;;; ; ; ; ; ;  * ; ; ; ;     g^,;^,^ 

Insurance: 

lil   ii*'®  iV ■ 120.00 

(b)   Furniture 1^-7 

Carfare:                                                               ^'^' 

Husband  (600  rides)    »  on  no 

Wife  and  children   (300  rides) '.'.*.'.* .'  .*  * .'  .*  .* ."  '  1500 

Amusements  and  recreation  .| an'nn 

Newspapers 1 1  mm 

Organizations    / |,^n 

Incidentals "'"" 

OiS.OO 

1632.15 
18 


B — Budget  Necessary  to  Maintain  Single  Man. 

Wherever  it  was  found  possible  the  budget  for  the  single  man 
and  single  woman  is  made  to  correspond  to  that  for  the  married 
man  and  woman  which  has  been  considered  in  the  foregoing  sec- 
tion of  the  report.  Where  the  items  are  taken  over  without 
change,  the  only  comment  made  is  the  reference  to  the  budget  for 
the  married  man  or  woman.  It  will  be  found,  however,  that  many 
items  differ  because  the  living  conditions,  the  matter  of  cleaning 
and  repairing  clothing,  expenses  for  amusement,  carfare,  etc.,  are 
likely  to  vary  to  a  considerable  extent. 


SUMMARY. 


1 — Room  15  per  week \ 

2 — Board  |.95  per  day 

Other  food,  fruit,  confectionery,  etc., 

25  cents  per  week 

3 — Clothing — including  repairing  and  cleaning 

4 — Laundry — average  of  $1  per  week 

5 — Toilet  supplies  and  services .' 

6 — Health — medical  charges,  dentist,  oculist 

7 — Religious  and  other  organizations — 10  cents  per  week.. 

8 — Newspapers ] 

9 — Books  and  magazines   (No  special  allowance — see  text) 

1 0« — Carfare   

600  rides  to  work  at  5  cents ?30.00 

144  additional  rides i.  7. 20 

1 1 — Amusement,  recreation,  gifts 

12 — Vacation  (No  special  allowance — see  text) 

13^ — Educational  purposes  (No  special  allowance — see  text) 
14 — Other  incidentals 


Per  Year. 

5260.00 
75 


346 


13.00 
156.12 
52.00 
15.00 
32.00 
5.20 
11.99 


15- 


Total   (not  including  savings) 
-Savings — 10  per  cent,  of  total 


expenses 


'37.20 

39.00 

26.00 

$994.26 
99.42 

Total  (including  savings)    $1,093.68 


ITEMIZED  DETAILS  OF  BUDGET 


Room. 


The  information  as  to  the  price  of  acceptable  rooms  was  se- 
cured from  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  the  Yonng 
Men's  Hebrew  Association,  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the 
"housing  bureaus"  of  two  of  the  largest  concerns  in  the  city  era- 
ploying  several  thousand  men.  As  these  different  organizations 
have  branches  in  various  parts  of  the  city  and  since  they  have  at 
i)resent  hundreds  of  available  rooms  on  their  lists,  it  was  assumed 
that  their  figures  would  serve  as  a  satisfactory  basis  for  estinir.t- 
ing  the  minimum  room  rent. 

19 


ii^mM 


Although  a  few  rooms  are  being  offered  at  as  low  a  figure  as  ^4: 
per  week,  and  a  very  large  number  at  $6-$7  per  week,  it  was 
found  that  a  considerable  number  were  avpilable  for  $5.  This 
holds  for  The  Bronx,  for  lower  Manhattan,  and  especially  for 
Brooklyn.  This  figure  was,  therefore,  adopted  as  representing  a 
common  TniniTrmni  rate. 

Boom — $5  per  week — per  year,  $260.00. 
Board. 

Investigation  proved  pretty  conclusively  that  the  typical  un- 
married clerk  in  New  York  City  is  accustomed  to  use  the  restau- 
rant for  all  three  meals  of  the  day  rather  than  to  have  breakfast 
and  dinner  in  the  boarding  house,  as  is  customary  in  many  locali- 
ties. This  opinion  was  confirmed  by  those  consulted  in  such  or- 
ganizations as  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  the 
Knights  of  Columbus.  For  this  reason  the  average  cost  of  each 
of  the  three  daily  meals  was  secured  from  five  large  organizations 
maintaining  122  chain  restaurants,  cafeterias  or  lunch  counters 
throughout  the  city.  According  to  the  figures  supplied  by  the 
management,  these  concerns  are  serving  over  180,000  meals  per 
day,  distributed  as  follows : 

28,487  breakfasts 

96,000  lunches 

57,754  suppers  or  dinners. 
As  the  average  number  of  patrons  was  estimated  for  each  meal 
by  each  organization  as  well  as  the  average  amount  of  the  check, 
it  was  possible  to  compute  weighted  averages  for  each  of  the  three 
meals  and  to  adopt  them  as  the  average  amount  spent  by  the 
typical  minor  clerk.* 


♦  For  the  purpose  of  throwing  as  much  light  as  possible  on  the  various  factors  en- 
tering  into   the   budget   so   that   the   reader  may  come   to   Independent   conclusions,   it 
peemed  desirable   to  refer  to  the  present  cost  of  a  balanced  daily  ration  that  would 
supply  the  proper  number  of  calories  for  the  maintenance  of  health.     Dr    Frank  C 
Gephart.    formerly  on  the  staff  of  the  Russell  Sage  Institute  of  Pathology,   and  the 
author   of   a   pioneer  work    on    the    caloric    value   of   food    (see  Analysis   and   Cost    of 
Ready-to-Serve  Food,   Chicago,   1915),  kindly  co-operated   in  this  matter.      He  under- 
took to  work  out  a  balanced  diet  for  the  twenty-one  meals  of  the  week  on  the  basis 
of  the  articles  listed  with  caloric  contents  on  the  regular  menus  of  one  of  the  well- 
known  chain   restaurants.      Menus  of  the  same  concern  were  used   in  the  preparation 
of  the  original  work  published  in   1915.     Changes  were  necessarily  made  in  the  com- 
position   of    the    meals    suggested    for    the    present    report    because    there    had    been 
changes  both  In  dishes  served,   in  portions  and  prices.     However,  It  was  found  pos- 
sible  to   hold    in   general   to   the   standards  discussed   In   the   treatise  just  mentioned 
The  twenty-one   menus  selected   according  to   these  standards,   that   is   on   the   basis 
of  balanced  diet,  caloric  contents  and  inexpensiveness,  are  reproduced  as  Appendix  B 
of   this    bulletin.      The    menus    provide   on    the   average   about   2.200    calories   per   day 
and   cost,   according  to  the  present  scale   of  prices,   11.64   per  day.      The  discrepancy 
between  this  figure  and  the  amount  adopted  in  our  budget  is  the  more  marked  when 
it  is  pointed   out  that  the  actual  average  daily  checks,   as  reported  by  the  chain  of 
restaurants  under  consideration,  run  much  lower  than  |1.64,  and  that  these  averages 
also  figured   In  our  compilation  as  described  above.     In  spite  of  the  discrepancy  be- 
tween  what   the   chemist-dietitian    prescribes   and    what   the   average    person    eats,    we 
did  not  feel  Justified  in  increasing  the  amount  of  $.95  per  day  for  food.     It  Is  con- 
sidered that  experience  must  finally  form  the  basis  of  conclusions  as  to  the  cost  of 
1?.^'    P"**cularly   when   averages  can   be  set   up  on   such   an   extensive  scale   as   is 
outlined  In  our  text. 

20 


In  addition  to  the  daily  cost  of  meals  an  allowance  of  25  cents 
per  week  is  made  for  the  purchase  of  fruit,  candy,  soda  water  or 
some  such  supplementary  item  of  food. 

Breakfast — $.28  per  day — per  year ?102.20 

Lunch — $.36  per  day — per  year 131.40 

Dinner — $.31  per  day — per  year 113.15 

Other    food,    fruit,   confectionery,    soda,   etc. — 25    cents    per 

week — per  year 13.00 

Total    $359.75 

Clothing. 

It  is  evident  that  the  respectably  appearing  man  will  demand 
about  the  same  quantity  and  quality  of  clothing  whether  married 
or  not.  Therefore,  the  total  cost  of  the  articles  listed  under  cloth- 
ing in  the  married  man's  budget  is  adopted  without  change. 

But  it  is  also  clear  that  the  unmarried  man  will  have  to  make 
more  replacements  during  any  given  year  because  of  the  absence 
of  the  timely  stitch,  and  further  that  the  charges  for  cleaning, 
pressing  and  laundry  will  probably  be  distinctly  higher.  The 
amount  set  aside  for  the  latter  item  is  accordingly  increased  for 
a  single  man  from  $6  to  $40.  This  provides  for  pressing  one  suit 
per  week,  cleaning  and  pressing  four  suits  a  year,  and  50  cents  a 
month  for  repairs.  Minimum  rates  for  pressing  are  now  50  cents 
per  suit  in  New  York  City.  Prices  for  cleaning  and  pressing  a 
man's  suit  were  secured  at  the  Barrett,  Nephews  Co.  (19  shops), 
the  Metropolitan  Dye  Works  (8  shops),  and  two  smaller  concerns 
(51st  Street  and  Lexington  Avenue,  and  one  on  Greenwich  Ave- 
nue). Since  the  prices  ranged  from  $1.50  to  $3,  $2  was  adopt- 
ed as  a  reasonable  minimum. 

On  the  basis  of  the  above  figures,  pressing  one  suit  a  week 
would  cost  $26;  repairs  at  the  rate  of  50  cents  per  month  would 
amount  to  $6,  and  cleaning  and  pressing  four  suits  per  year 
would  cost  $8.    These  figures  total  $40  a  year. 

The  miscellaneous  item  which  covers  minor  matters  such  as 
shoe  strings,  watch  repairs,  and  the  like,  is  increased  over  the 
married  man's  budget  from  $3  to  $15,  or  at  the  rate  of  $1  per 
month.  This  increase  is  to  care  for  the  replacements  due  to  the 
lack  of  timely  repair,  mending,  etc. 

Clothing — per  year $101.12 

Cleaning,  pressing  and  repairing" — per  year '.  40.00 

Miscellaneous — per  year 15.00 

Total    ! $156.12 

21 


^"•^^Mftwcv 


■•■^'"•-»'T?!?a>»;sl!l(*SIWPPW'i»WWPl>B«^^ 


'■9s4SfPfflr/' 


Laundry. 

A  report  secured  at  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  covering  2,827  different  laundry  bills  indi- 
cates that  the  young  men  rooming  there  spent  94  cents  a  week  on 
the  averagle  during  the  course  of  three  months.  On  the  basis  of 
this  information,  $1  per  week  is  set  aside  as  the  minimum  amount 
for  laundry  charges. 

Laundry~-$1  per  week-— per  year,  $52.00. 

ToUet  Supplies  and  Services, 

The  figure  found  in  the  budget  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statis- 
tics is  unchanged  on  the  ground  that  the  prices  for  haircuts,  tooth 
paste,  tooth  brushes,  hand  soap,  combs,  shoe  polish  and  other  such 
items  are  not  materiallyl  different  in  New  York  than  they  were  in 
Washington  in  1919.  The  larger  part  of  this  item  is  the  total  cost 
estimated  for  hair-cutting,  i.  e.,  $8.50.  This  provides  for  one  hair- 
cut every  three  weeks  at  the  average  price  of  50  cents. 

Toilet  Supplies  and  Services— per  year,  $15.00. 

Health. 

As  investigation  showed  that  the  usual  fees  charged  by  physi- 
cians, dentists  and  oculists  are  approximately  the  same  in  Wash- 
ington as  in  New  York,  and  that  there  has  been  no  material  change 
in  the  former  city  over  the  fall  of  1919,  the  amount  is,  therefore, 
adopted  without  change. 

Health— medical  charges,  dentist,  oculist— per  year,  $32.00. 

Organizations. 

The  lowest  possible  amount  that  can  be  contributed  either  to 
the  church  or  other  organization  would  seem  to  be  at  the  rate  of 
10  cents  per  week. 

No  provision  is  made  in  this  budget  for  membership  in  a  labor 
organization  except  under  this  general  heading.  According  to  all 
available  information  the  typical  clerk  whether  in  the  civil  serv- 
ice or  in  commercial  and  banking  establishments  does  not  belong 
to  labor  organizations,  as  he  does  in  Washington. 
Religious  or  other  organization — per  year,  $5.20. 

22 


Redding, 

The  standard  rate  for  a  daily  newspaper  is  now  three  cents  and 
for  the  Sunday  edition  five  cents.  This  item  amounts,  therefore, 
to  $11.99  per  year.  This  expenditure  is  justified  in  the  name  of 
intelligent  citizenship.  It  should  also  be  noted  that  no  provision 
is  made  for  books  and  magazines.  If  the  individual  does  not  use 
the  public  library  for  this  purpose,  it  is  assumed  that  he  will  cur- 
tail expenditures  for  amusements,  recreation  and  possibly  for  the 
daily  newspaper  itself  for  the  sake  of  occasionally  purchasing  a 
book  or  magazine. 

Newspapers — per  year,  $11.99. 

Carfare, 

As  in  the  case  of  the  married  man,  only  10  cents  per  day  is  al- 
lowed for  riding  to  and  from  work.  Provision  is  made  for  600 
rides  to  and  from  the  office  and  144  rides  per  year  for  pleasure 
and  other  purposes.  This  is  at  the  rate  of  six-round  trips  per 
month. 

Carfare — 744  rides — per  year,  $37.20. 

Recreation. 

This  is  computed  on  the  basis  of  75  cents  per  week  as  a  reason- 
able minimum  for  a  young  man  living  alone  in  a  boarding  or  room- 
ing house.  It  covers  the  cost  of  such  amusements  as  moving  pic- 
tures, excursions  and  games,  both  for  himself  and  possibly  for  a 
lady  companion.  It  also  includes  the  cost  of  any  gifts  he  may 
have  occasion  to  make  during  the  year. 

Amusements,  recreation,  gifts — per  year,  $39.00. 

Vacation  and  Education — No  provision  is  made  in  the  budget 
for  these  two  items.  Assuming  that  the  typical  clerk  receives  an- 
nual leave  with  full  pay,  it  was  considered  that  no  special  sum 
should  be  estimated  for  extra  expenses  under  this  heading. 

In  view  of  the  special  educational  courses  offered  free  of  charge 
in  public  institutions  as  well  as  in  a  number  of  large  business 
concerns,  no  estimate  was  made  for  the  item  of  education.  The 
ambitious  student  attending  night  classes  would  also  probably  re- 
duce his  expenses  for  amusements  or  incidentals,  thus  making  pos- 
sible certain  expenditures  for  educational  purposes. 

Incidentals. 
This  group  includes  a  large  number  of  items  which,  for  the 

23 


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most  part  are  either  inexpensive  or  of  only  occasional  occurence; 
such  items,  for  instance,  as  stationery,  stamps,  note  book,  pocket 
book,  occasional  use  of  telephone  and  telegraph  and  tobacco.  Fifty 
cents  a  week  is  considered  a  reasonable  minimum  allowance  to 
cover  this  group  of  items. 

Other  incidentals — per  year,  $26.00. 

Savings. 

The  importance  of  some  provision  on  the  score  of  savings  for 
a  young  man  is  generally  recognized.  This  may  take  the  form  of 
a  bank  account,  insurance,  or  property  investment.  Ten  per  cent, 
of  all  living  expenses  is  set  aside  for  this  item. 

Savings — per  year,  $99.05. 

C — BUDGET  NECESSARY  TO  MAINTAIN  A   SINGLE   WOMAN. 

SUMMARY. 

Per  Year. 

1« — Room ^260.00 

2 — Board — $.95  per  day 346.75 

Other  food,  fruit,  confectionery,  etc., 

25  cents  per  week 13.00 

3 — Clothing 184.30 

4 — Laundry — average  of  $1.25  per  week 65.00 

5 — Toilet  supplies ^ 10.00 

6 — Health — medical  charges,  dentist,  oculist 43.00 

7 — 'Religious  and  other  organizations — 10  cents  per  week.  .  5.20 

8' — Newspapers 11.99 

9 — Books  and  magazines  (No  special  allowancee — see  text)        

10 — Carfare   37.20 

600  rides  to  work  at  5  cents. | $30.00 

144  additional  rides 7.20 

11 — Amusements  and  recreation 20.00 

12 — Vacation   (No  special  allowance — see  text) 

13 — Educational  purposes  (No  special  allowance — see  text)  ...... 

14 — Other  incidentals 20.00 

Total  (Not  including  savings) $1,016.44 

15 — Savings — 10  per  cent,  of  total  expenses 101.64 

Total  (Including  savings)   $1,118.08 


lists  of  these  organizations.  Rates  were  given  both  for  single  and 
for  double  rooms,  i.  e.,  for  two  in  a  room.  As  these  rates  did  not 
vary  at  all  except  in  one  report,  it  is  not  necessary  to  make  any 
distinction  on  this  score. 

Although  certain  of  the  agencies  reported  a  limited  supply  of 
rooms  at  $4  and  others  considered  that  the  common  minimum 
rate  was  $6  per  week,  there  seemed  to  be  a  sufficient  number  of 
rooms  in  two  or  three  sections  of  the  city  renting  at  $5  per  week 
to  warrant  the  adoption  of  this  as  a  common  minimum  rate  for  the 
purpose  of  our  investigation. 

Room — $5  per  week — per  year,  $260.00. 

Food. 

As  with  the  single  man,  the  various  people  consulted  were  of  the 
opinion  that  the  average  self-supporting  young  woman  not  living 
at  home  is  accustomed  to  take  all  of  her  meals  at  restaurants  or 
cafeterias  or  to  cook  in  her  own  room  rather  than  to  have  break- 
fasts, dinners  and  Sunday  meals  in  a  boarding  house,  and  lunches 
in  a  cafeteria  or  restaurant.  Moreover,  according  to  the  data 
collected  the  total  expense  for  the  latter  arrangement  would  usu- 
ally exceed  the  cost  of  buying  all  three  meals  in  a  restaurant  or 
lunch  room  at  the  figure  noted  below.  Since  figures  as  to  cost  of 
preparing  breakfast  and  dinner  in  the  rooms  are  not  available 
to  such  an  extent  that  any  generalization  could  be  made,  this  ar- 
rangement was  also  left  out  of  account.  The  figures  recommended 
in  this  budget  is  computed,  therefore,  on  the  assumption  that  the 
young  women  clerks  ''eat  around",  as  it  is  commonly  expressed. 

The  cost  of  food  per  day  is  determined  on  the  same  basis  as  for 
the  single  man.     (Cf.  the  foregoing  section). 

Food,  per  year,  $346.75. 


ITEMIZED   DETAILS    OF   BUDGET 


Room. 


Information  concerning  prevailing  rates  for  rooms  was  secured 
from  the  branches  of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association — 
situated  in  various  parts  of  Manhattan,  Brooklyn  and  Newark — 
also  from  the  Young  Women's  Hebrew  Association  and  the  Bu- 
reau of  Boarding  Houses.    Over  6,700  rooms  are  on  the  approved 

24 


Clothing. 

On  account  of  the  difference  in  occupation,  the  clothing  of  the 
single  woman  who  is  engaged  in  clerical  work  will  vary  greatly 
from  that  of  the  woman  whose  life  is  spent  largely  at  home.  For 
this  reason  an  entirely  different  list  of  items  was  proposed  in  the 
budget  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics.  The  cost  of  these  items 
is  determined  by  averaging  the  prices  asked  in  the  five  department 
stores  previously  described.     (See  page  9.) 

25 


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mmmmn 


mam 


f*p" 


Suit  and  alterations 

Coat 

Shirt  waists,  white 

Waist,  dress 

Dress,  one-piece,  wool  serge. 

Skirts,  white  wash 

Dress,  afternoon  or  party. . . 
Rats. 


Shoes — low [[[[ 

Shoes — high i !!!.!!!!...!! ! 

Shoes — repairs  (whole  soles) .!.!.!.!!!!.,.!.!!. 

Shoes — heels 

Gloves .'....'.."..,*...' 

Stockings — cotton 

Stockings — silk .....'.'.'. 

Corset 

Nightgowns 

Petticoat,  white  muslin 

Corset  covers ..."......',.. 

Union  suits,  year  round  wear 

Silk  petticoat 

Handkerchiefs 

Kimona 

Umbrella i !!!!!!!.! ! 

Rubbers .!.!.!..!!..!!! 

Cleaning  and  pressing .'. . 

Miscellaneous    expenses,    to    include  '  hairpins*, '  hairnets, 

collars  and  cuffs,  purse,  veils,  dress  shields,  sanitary 

supplies,  watch  repairs,  etc 


Unit 
Price 


S43.00 

42.65 

2.34 

8.53 

27.45 

4.15 

27.95 

6.64 

7.86 

8.36 

1.89 

.30 

2.94 

.51 

1.62 

3.85 

1.84 

1.77 

1.36 

.96 

5.13 

.16 

1.93 

3.94 

1.02 

3.20 


Annual 
Replacement 


Total. 


H 

1/3 

5 

1 


H 
2 
1 
1 

1 
4 
1 
8 
1 
1 
2 
1 
4 
5 
1 
10 

>i 
1 
2 


Annual 

Cost 

•21 

.50 

14 

.21 

11 

.70 

8 

.53 

13.72 

8 

.30 

13 

.97 

13 

28 

7.8ft 

8 

36 

1 

89 

1 

20 

2.94 

4 

08 

1 

62 

3. 

85 

3. 

68 

1.77 
5.44 
4.80 
5.13 
1.60 
.48 
1.97 
1.02 
6.40 


15.00 


$184.30 


Lau7idry, 

The  Washington  budget  sets  the  sum  of  $1.25  per  week  as  the 
minimum  average  amount  for  laundry  purposes.  It  is  assumed 
that  the  work  will  be  done  by  a  washerwoman.  Inquiry  goes  to 
show  that  this  same  figure  would  cover  the  cost  of  a  minimum 
quantity  of  laundry  in  New  York  City  at  prices  usually  charged 
by  washerwomen. 

Laundry  $1.25  per  week per  year,  $65.00. 

Toilet  Supplies. 

The  amount  of  $10.00  will  doubtless  appear  very  moderate  when 
it  is  considered  that  the  item  includes  such  supplies  as  the  follow- 
ing: tooth  brushes,  tooth  paste,  toilet  soap,  shampoo  soap,  hair 
brush,  comb,  shoe  polish,  talcum  powder,  face  powder,  toilet  water, 
etc.     This  is  taken  without  change  from  the  Washington  budget. 

Toilet  Supplies— per  year,  $10.00. 


tures  of  the  wage-earning  women  receiving  $800-1,100  per  year, 
whose  annual  budgets  were  collected  by  the  Washington  Bureau  of 
Labor  Statistics  in  1916.  The  average  proved  to  be  approximate- 
ly $32.  On  account  of  the  increased  fees  in  1919,  33  1-2  per  cent, 
was  added  to  this  amount.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  current 
standard  prices  for  medical  and  similar  services  are  about  the 
same  in  Washington  as  in  New  York  today,  $43  seemed  a  reason- 
able estimate  for  the  item  of  health  in  this  budget. 
Health— per  year,  $43.00. 

Religious  and  other  organizations— per  year. 55.20 

Newspapers — per  year ' v7*«>n 

Carfare — 744  rides — per  year *'•''" 

Vacation  and  education ;  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •••'*>'  '«'  '^cro//  '  * 

(For  the  above  four  items  see  discussion  in  Single  Man  s  Budget) 

Recreation 

This  figure  is  less  than  the  one  recommended  for  the  single  man 
because  it  is  assumed  that  certain  expenses  for  entertainment  will 
be  met  by  young  men  friends.  The  amount  of  $20  would  make 
possible  some  simple  form  of  amusement  once  a  week  throughout 

the  year. 
Amusements  and  recreation — per  year,  $20.00. 

IncidentdHs. 

For  items  included,  see  the  single  man's  budget.  The  basis  of 
this  estimate  was  the  average  amount  spent  by  wage-earning  wom- 
en whose  budgets  were  collected  in  Washington  in  1916.  The  average 
expenditure  for  this  group  beginning  with  those  receiving  $600 
per  year  was  $15.  On  account  of  the  increased  cost  of  most  of 
these  items,  the  amount  was  increased  by  33  1-3  per  cent,  for  the 
single  woman's  budget. 

Other  incidentals— per  year,  $20.00. 

Savings. 

For  a  discussion  of  this  item,  see  Single  Man's  Budget. 
Savings— per  year,  $102.00. 


Health. 


The  amount  of  $43.00  is  allowed  to  cover  the  cost  of  medicine 
and  expenditures  for  the  professional  services  of  the  physician, 
oculist  and  dentist.    The  basis  for  this  figure  is  the  actual  expendi- 

26 


27 


APPENDIX  A 

ITEMIZED  DETAILS  OF  QUANTITIES  AND  COSTS  OF  FOOD 

FOR  THE  FAMILY  BUDGET 


Item. 


Meat. 


Beef,  fresh,  steak 

roast 

stew 

side 

Beef,  salt,  corned 

dried 

Veal,  fresh,  cutlet 

roast 

stew 

Pork,  fresh,  chops 

roast 

■alt,  bacon 

ham  and  shoulder 

side,  dry 

pickled 

Mutton,  chops , 

roast , 

stew 

side 

Poultry,  hens 

turkey 

Sausage 

Liver 

Kidney 

Brains 

Pigs  feet 

Veal  loaf 

Rabbit 

Canned,  potted  beef... . 

pork 

Cooked  meat,  ham 

tongue 

bologna 

corned  beef 


Average 

annual 

9uan- 

tity  of 

food,  in 

pounds. 


430.3 

74.  S 
62.7 
46.6 
19.5 
10.1 
.6 


21.9 

'38.2 

19 .3 

17.5 

6.9 

1.8 

7.3 

11 


Average 

cost 

per 
pound 


12 

23 
3 

16 
9 
1 


Fish 


Fish,  fresh 

salt 

canned  salmon.. 

canned  tuna. . . . 

Oysters 

Crabs 

Clams 


Dairy  products. 


Milk,  whole 

condensed,    evaporated. 


Buttermilk 

Cream 

Ice  cream 

Butter 

Cheese,  American. 

cottage. .. 

Cream.... 


Lard... 
Eggs. .  . 
Cereals. 


Flour,  wheat. 


rye 

Graham. 


6.6 

.2 

.2 

8.3 

.5 

}       9.5 

67.9 

41.0 
4.5 

10.0 
1.6 
5.3 

I       5.5 

1.182.8 

930.9 
65.2 

75.6 

3.0 

7.9 

80.3 

13.6 

>       6.3 


36.7 

102.1 

1.152.2 

332.2 
11.7 
45.9 


$   .35 

.37 
.45 
.38 
.29 
.17 
.29 
.41 
.29 
.22 
.29 
.25 
.37 
.29 


An- 
nual 
cost 
per 
item. 


$154.30 

27.67 

28.21 

17.70 

5.65 

1.71 

.17 


6.35 


9.55 


.25 
.31 
.23 
.16 
.16 
.39 
.69 
.26 
.35 
.18 
.36 
.08 
.35 
.27 
.40 
.40 
.83 
1.40 
.40 
.93 

.27 


7.14 
5.07 
2.09 
.45 
2.26 
2.65 
2.03 

OlM 
9.12 
2.48 
4.21 
3.32 
.23 


Item. 


Corn  meal 

Hominy  or  grits.. 
Cream  of  Wheat. 

Corn  flakes 

Rolled  oats 

Puffed  rice 

Bread,  wheat 

rye 

Graham.. 

Rolls 

Crackers 

Cake 

Pies 

Macaroni 

Spaghetti 

Noodles 

Rice , 


Starch  group. 


2.27 

.08 

.08 

6.88 


.25 
.25 
.17 
.61 
.45 

.57 

.11 

.07 
.15 

.05 
.63 
.44 
.57 
.35 
.15 
.83 

.19 

.40 
.09 

.06 
.12 
.11 


6.32 

19.39 

10.25 

1.12 

1.70 

.81 

2.38 

3.13 

137.39 

65.16 
9.78 

3.78 
1.69 
.^.47 
45.77 
4.76 

3.08 

6.97 

40.84 

107.14 

19.93 
1.40 
5.04 


Cornstarch. 
Tapioca. . . . 


Sugar  group. 


Sugar 

Corn  sirup. 
Molasses... 

Honey 

Candy 


Fresh  fruits. 


Apples 

Peaches 

Bananas 

Lemons 

Oranges 

Grapes 

Berries 

Canteloupe 

Watermelon 

Pears  and  others. 


Fruits,  dried. 


Apples 

Prunes 

Raisins,  currants. 

Peaches 

Apricots 


Fruits,  canned. 


Peaches 

Pineapple 

Berries 

Jelly 

Fruit  butters. 


Average 
annual 
quan- 
tity of 
food,  in 
pounds 


Vegetables,  fresh. 


Potatoes,  white, 
sweet. 

Cabbage 

Spinach 

Peas 


63.8 
12.1 

7.1 

4.4 
57.6 

1.1 

456.6 

21.5 

2.3 
22.0 
17.8 
16.1 

4.2 

32.6 

44.2 

5.9 

4.3 
1.6 

208.1 

162.9 

35.5 


9.7 

400.9 

204.1 
27.7 
36.5 
9.7 
29.7 
13.8 
18.4 
10.1 
15.1 
35.8 

30.1 

1.2 

14.8 

11.1 

1.4 

1.6| 

16.0 

3.0 
1.5 
1.7 

9.8 


1.200.0 

738.2 
47.9 
76.9 
24.3 
11.4 


Average 

cost 

per 
pound. 


;  .07 
.08 
.14 
.20 
.07 
.51 
.09 
.10 
.10 
.24 
.22 
.34 
.27 
.15 
.15 
.18 
.09 

.10 

.10 
.11 

.13 

.09 
.08 
.13 
.66 
.32 

.08 

.07 
.07 
.20 
.04 
.06 
.14 
.12 
.07 
.02 
.10 

.22 


.20 
.16 
.32 
.26 
.35 

.24 

.12 

.18 
.20 
.31 
.30 

.04 

.03 
.05 
.03 
.11 
.20 


An- 
nual 
cost 
per 
item. 


$  4.46 

.96 

.99 

.88 

4.60 

.56 

41.09 

2.15 

.23 

5.60 

3.91 

5.13 

1.13 

5.21 

3.97 

.62 

.43 
.19 

28.05 

14. 6« 

10.29 

3.10 

34.69 

14.28 

1.98 

7.30 

39 

2.07 

1.93 

2.20 

.71 

.30 

3.58 

6.92 


.24 

,22 

56 

36 

50 


3.01 

.36 
.27 

.34 

2.04 


66.05 

21.40 
2.40 
2.30 
2.07 
2.28 


Item. 


Beans,  string. 

Tomatoes 

Onions 

Corn 

Lettuce 

Celery 

Beets 

Carrots 

Turnips 

Sauerkraut. . . 
Asparagus.. .. 
Cauliflower. . . 

Parsnips 

Peppers 

Kale 


Average 
annual 
quan- 
tity of 
food,  in 
pounds. 


Average 

cost 

per 
poimd. 


Vegetables,  dried. 


Beans,  navy. 

Peas 

Beans,  lima. 


Vegetables,  canned 


Beans,  baked. 

Peas 

Corn 

Tomatoes 

Asparagus. . . . 
Beans,  string. 


Vegetable  oil. 


37, 

87. 

73.6 

35.8 

10 

6.8 
24.1 
35.5 
23 

4 

2 


An- 
nual 
cost 
per 
item. 


20.8 


44.3 

24.1 
5.4 

14.8 

43.9 

5.2 
10.1 

9.3 

18.0 

.3 

1.0 

17, 


.14 
.10 
.03 
.04 
.09 
.12 
.04 
.03 
.02 
.08 
.20 
.06 
.04 
.11 
.07 

.09 

.09 
.10 
.11 

.08 

.08 
.12 
.08 
.07 
.18 
.13 

.21 


5.22 

8.73 

2.42 

1.43 

.92 

.81 

.96 

1.42 

.69 

.36 

.44 

1.45 


Item. 


Nut  margarine 

Cottonseed  oil 

Olive  oil,  Mazola. 
Crisco ". 


Average 
annual 
quan- 
tity of 
food,  ill 
pounds. 


Miscellaneous  veg- 
etable food 


4.32 

2.16 

.64 

1.62 

3.81 

.42 
1.21 

.74 
1.26 

.05 

.13 

4.74 


Chocolate 

Peanut  butter. 

Cocoa 

Nuts 


Mixed  fats. 


Oleo 

Lard  compound. 


Miscellaneous 
items 


Tea 

Coffee 

Coffee  substitute. . . 

Gelatin 

Canned  soup 

Miscellaneous  food. 


Ice. 


Total. 


Average 

cost 

per 

pound. 


$  3.9 

[       6.5 
7.1 

11.9 

1.2 
4.7 
6.3 

.7 

26.3 

13.0 
13.3 

56.7 

9.8 

39.6 

1.0 

.9 
5.0 

.4 

•2,800.0 


An- 
nual 
cost 
per 
item. 


.28 
.32 
.29 
.24 


.40 

.45 
.43 
.37 
.35 

.25 
.19 


.31 

.36 
.30 
.40 
1.33 
.17 


.006 


$  1.09 
1.95 
1.70 

4.76 

.54 
2.02 
1.96 

.24 

6.81 

4.29 
2.52 

17.84 

3.52 
11.88 

.40 
1.19 

.85 


16.80 


$655.35 


•25    pounds    daily    for    4    months,    approximately  June  to  September,  inclusive. 


28 


29 


^mmm^^mm^i 


mmm^imimm 


■^i«*?feiifcife*»ii^- 


:'a«aati«  mrM.vm'-:^.wmift»>':ifi0^i^^: 


APPENDIX  B 

r«n,.;7l®  following  menus  provide  a  balanced  ration  for  one  week.  They  contain  the 
requisite  number  of  calories  to  maintain  health  and  were  chosen  with  thrpuipo^e  of 
reducmg  costs  to  the  utmost.  The  menus  were  selected  by  Dr.  Frank  cSart 
th^Zt  ^/^'''  ^""^  ?^l*  ^*  R«?<!y-to-Serve  Food,  from  the  current  menus  of  ?ne  of 
the  Cham  restaurants  which  supplied  data  as  to  average  meal  checks.  These  date  fi£- 
?c1  nSor^rl""^  ^'  average  daily  cost  of  food  for  L  single  ZTaJs^ilew^^n 
(Cf.  p.  20).     The  prices  and  caloric  contents  were  adopted  as  published  in  tiie  menus. 


Monday 

Breakfast: 


Griddle    cakes    with 

butter  &  syrup. . . 
Coffee 


Lunch:   Baked    Beans 

with  pork 

Bread  and  butter 

Doughnuts 

Milk  (Glass) 


Dinner:  Roast  Sirloin  of  beef 
with  mashed  potato 

Layer  Cake 

Bread  and  butter 

Chocolate  with  whipped 
cream 


Tuesday 
Breakfast: 


One-half  Grape  Fruit 
Ham  and  eggs. ... 
Bread  and  butter. 
Coffee 


Lunch: 


Dinner: 


Chicken  soup  with  Rice 
Bread  and  butter 
Cup  Custard 


Beef  stew  w.  vegetables 
Bread  and  butter 

Rice  pudding 

Cocoa 


Wednesday 
Breakfast: 


Baked  Apple. . 
Buttered  toast 
Coffee 


Lunch:   Corned    beef   hash 
poached  egg. . . 
Bread  and  butter 
Creamed    Tapioca    pud 

ding 

Milk  (Glass) 

Dinner:  Vegetable  soup. . 
Bread  and  butter 
Liver    and    Bacon 

potatoes 
Ice  Cream 
Coffee 


Thursday 
Breakfast: 


Lunch:   Breaded  veal  cutlet  with 

potatoes 

Bread  and  butter 
Baked  apple 

Dinner:  Lamb  stew  w.  vegetables 
Bread  and  butter 
Doughnuts 
Coffee 


Broiled  Bacon..  . 
Bread  and  butter 
Coffee 


.f««fegi»« 


iliirT  ^'i If-  I    -J]  r"-"-""  '^ p--...— >~i^.^- 


Bureau  of  Municipal  Research 


261  Broadway,  New  York 


Established  January,   1006 — Incorporated,   May,    1907 


To  promote  efficient  and  economical  municipal  government;  to  promote  the 
adoption  of  scientific  methods  of  accounting  and  of  reporting  the  details 
of  municipal  business,  with  a  view  to  facilitating  the  work  of  public  offi- 
cials; to  secure  constructive  publicity  in  matters  pertaining  to  municipal 
problems;  to  collect,  to  classify,  to  analyze,  to  correlate,  to  interpret  and 
to  publish  facts  as  to  the  administration  of  municipal  government.  (Ar- 
ticles of  Incorporation.) 


TRiUiSTEEJS 


R.  FULTON  CUTTING,  Chairman 

VICTOR  MORAWETZ,  Vice-Chairman 

RICHARD  S.  CHILDS,  Treasurer 

HiENRY  BRUERE 

FREDERICK  A.  CLEVELAND 

MRS.  E.  H.  HARRIMAN 

SAM  A.  LEWISOHN 

SAMUEL  MoCUNE  LINDSAY 

JOHN  T.  PRATT 

WILLIAM  A.  PIRIBNDERGAST 

MORTIMER  L.  SCHIFF 

EDWIN  R.  A  SELIGMAN 

ALBERT  SHAW 

LUTHER  GUUCK,  Secretary 


ADMINISTRATION 
RAYMOND  )BL  FOSDIUK,  Counsel 


J 


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)H5/7    0/1// 


HAY  1 9 1994 


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